Today, Foursquare unveiled the new “I Voted” app. Powered by the Google Civic Information API, the app will give you everything you need to know to make you a good citizen and informed voter.
Well, maybe not a truly informed voter – Foursquare isn’t run by magicians. But it will give you some basic info on where to be, what you’ll need, and what your choices are on November 6th.
“Connect the ‘I Voted’ app to your Foursquare account today. You’ll be able to find your polling station and learn about the candidates and propositions that will be on your ballot ahead of time,” says Foursquare. It will also provide you with voter ID requirements in whatever state you’re voting in.
Foursquare says that the voting initiative is a combined effort with Engage, the Voting Information Project, Pew, and the New Organizing Institute.
If information wasn’t enough of an incentive to connect the “I Voted” app, they’re also offering a special election day badge for anyone who includes the #ivoted hashtag inside their check-in and the polling location.
One of the more interesting parts about the announcement is the unveiling of election.foursquare.com. As of now, it’s just a gateway to the “I Voted” app. But the company tells users to check back on election day to “see America voting in real time.” There’s also a map on the page, so I’m assuming we’re going to get to see voters checking in at their polling places all across the country. Pretty cool.
A few days ago, Google launched their own voter information tool.